My pre-breakfast QSO this morning was with KD0V in Minnesota. (I’ve also worked Merlin before) (Sept. 30th). He had a good copy on me (569) but I kept the power at my maximum 10 watts. (I usually reduce power when I get a reception report like this).
We exchanged the usual weather, rig specs, and antenna and then it was time for breakfast.
Merlin uses a Tentec Jupiter at 100 watts and a G5RV antenna. He lives about 750 miles from me in a small town a little south of St Paul, MN.
I love those Tentec rigs because the keying is so sharp. I can usually recognize one immediately when I hear the first “dot”. It’s an incredibly sharp, crisp, “chirp” that’s very distinctive.
The more I operate on the ham bands, the more I recognize different “tones”. Some home built QRP rigs have a sloppy “fuzzy” tone and they "drift" a little, when in a long QSO. Sometimes I hear a “keyboard” CW operator. They’re “typing” on a computer with a program that sends it on the air. I can’t really describe it in words but I recognize the sounds. It has a “mechanical” sound that’s “too perfect” for a normal operator to achieve.
I used “iambic paddles” for many years before I retired from the paint store. In a contest, an "exchange" can be in the neighborhood of about 20 wpm or faster. But I wouldn’t try to carry on a conversation at this speed. It's also discouraging to new operators....
I’ve found the most "enjoyable" CW mode is a “straight key” at about 13 wpm. I bought an imitation “Navy Training Key” several months ago, and rarely use the "paddles" anymore. I can tell quickly who is using the same type of key. There’s something special about the sound of a “straight key”. There’s a “personality” that comes across on the air with this type of key and it’s enjoyable to hear on the bands.
A few months ago, I removed the microphone from my rig. I’ll still use it occasionally (probably for DX on the 20 meter band) but I don’t miss it…..
Merlin (KD0V) is a member of the “Straight Key Century Club”, the “FISTS” Club and the North American QRP CW Club.
We exchanged the usual weather, rig specs, and antenna and then it was time for breakfast.
Merlin uses a Tentec Jupiter at 100 watts and a G5RV antenna. He lives about 750 miles from me in a small town a little south of St Paul, MN.
I love those Tentec rigs because the keying is so sharp. I can usually recognize one immediately when I hear the first “dot”. It’s an incredibly sharp, crisp, “chirp” that’s very distinctive.
The more I operate on the ham bands, the more I recognize different “tones”. Some home built QRP rigs have a sloppy “fuzzy” tone and they "drift" a little, when in a long QSO. Sometimes I hear a “keyboard” CW operator. They’re “typing” on a computer with a program that sends it on the air. I can’t really describe it in words but I recognize the sounds. It has a “mechanical” sound that’s “too perfect” for a normal operator to achieve.
I used “iambic paddles” for many years before I retired from the paint store. In a contest, an "exchange" can be in the neighborhood of about 20 wpm or faster. But I wouldn’t try to carry on a conversation at this speed. It's also discouraging to new operators....
I’ve found the most "enjoyable" CW mode is a “straight key” at about 13 wpm. I bought an imitation “Navy Training Key” several months ago, and rarely use the "paddles" anymore. I can tell quickly who is using the same type of key. There’s something special about the sound of a “straight key”. There’s a “personality” that comes across on the air with this type of key and it’s enjoyable to hear on the bands.
A few months ago, I removed the microphone from my rig. I’ll still use it occasionally (probably for DX on the 20 meter band) but I don’t miss it…..
Merlin (KD0V) is a member of the “Straight Key Century Club”, the “FISTS” Club and the North American QRP CW Club.
You can learn more about a "Straight Key" here:
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